Globally there seems to be an increase in psychosocial problems in school
communities. This tendency can largely be contributed to the increasing complexity of
modern society.
Research studies indicate that for an organisation like a school to survive and improve
the wellbeing of its members, it should become more flexible and adjustable to all
sociological changes. In this study, it is reasoned that the complexity of human behaviour as
well as the complex nature of a school community are not always fully realised. Leadership
is thus not always able to make adjustments to enable the school to adjust to an ever-changing
complex modern society.
Internationally, most governments address this problem by the implementation of
programmes and policies that acknowledge the necessity to view a school community as
being part of broader eco-systems. The introduction of whole-school approaches in schools
addresses this interaction and the dependency between systems. The reasoning is that change
is more likely to occur when the whole community shares a collective vision about their
plans, aspirations, and goals. Despite policies that support multi-dimensional interactive
approaches, it is unfortunately plagued by systemic problems due to a lack to fully
accommodate an understanding of complexity of human behaviour and systems. Although
the holistic and collective principles are implicated in policies, the importance of the dynamic
nature of relationships does not always receive the necessary attention.
This purpose of this study is to focus on the potential of dynamic relationships in
order to create a more humanised school community by utilizing dynamic interactive
relational processes in the promotion of relational wellbeing. The emphasis is therefore on
the role that school leaders can play to promote relational wellbeing by utilising this dynamic
nature of relationships as a means to influence and change rigid authoritative leadership
control by adopting a more transformative leadership style. Unless school leaders of the
future become more sophisticated in their understanding of the complexity and the dynamic
relational processes of human behaviour, it is unlikely that relational wellbeing in schools
will be promoted.
The researcher found it necessary to focus primarily on the current perceptions of
leaders at all levels in a secondary school community. The challenge was an attempt to gain
a better understanding of their experiences and thoughts about the restraining factors that
affected the promotion of relational wellbeing can be addressed and challenged.
Accordingly, a single qualitative research case study, consisting of an appreciative inquiry
(AI), which was followed-up by a working session, was conducted at this school. In view of
the findings of study, several recommendations were made for practice and policy
development. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15172 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | De Kok, Judith |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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